The Ministry of External Affairs clarified the passport's function on Tuesday. It stated the document regulates departure and is not proof of citizenship. This clarification followed debate regarding its use in electoral roll revisions. The Ministry emphasized passports are issued after established verification processes. Currently, less than eight percent of Indian citizens possess this document.

The Passports Act allowed the Central government to issue a passport “to a person who is not a citizen of India” if it is necessary to do so | India News

The Ministry of External Affairs clarified the passport's function on Tuesday. It stated the document regulates departure and is not proof of citizenship. This clarification…

Indian passport regulates citizens' departure from India, with less than 8% of citizens currently holding one, says MEA spokesperson.

The state does not recognise its own documents as proof of citizenship. Yet citizens are losing their rights if they cannot produce this unattainable evidence.